Puzzle



March 27, 1928. 663,568

I J. M. SCHNEIDER PUZZLE Fild March 21. 1927 J1 (MI 7 a 9 I0 (I12 1.707717 mIfichneide A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

* UNITED s-TA TES- JOHN M. SCHNEIDER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PUZZLE.

Application filed March 21, 1927. Serial'No. 176,939.

This invention relates to a puzzle, which consists primarily of blocks of different sizes held by a container, the blocks being adapted to be moved from an original. position to a final position according to certain rules.

' It is the object of the invention to provide an inexpensive puzzle or game, the operation or solution of which is sufliciently difiicult to hold the interest of those who attempt to solve the puzzle. Another object of the invention is the provision of such a puzzle wherein the blocks, when the puzzle is solved, are in exactly the reverse position from the original position so that when such puzzle 1s solved and the container is reversed, the blocks are automatically in the original position and the puzzle ready to be again solved.

In the .accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the puzzle showing the blocks in the container and in the original or starting position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the position of the blocks when the puzzle has been solved.

Fig. 3 is a diagram with the spaces, or units of area in'the box numberedy In the accompanying drawings a container is referenced 1. This container is preferably half of abox within which the blocks are contained when the puzzle is sold. As shown, the'cover is removed and the container is the body portion of the box.

As will be noted byreference to F igt 3, the dimensions of the container are six units in one direction, and five units in the other. The exact dimensions are not material, but a box approximately four and three-fourths inches by four inches is satisfactory. The

units of area are square.

The blocks in the box consist of a relatively large square block 2 which is equal to four units of area; two small square blocks 3 and 4 equal to oneunit; each, and two oblong blocks 5 equal t-o two units each, arranged in a vertical row, as shown in Fig. 1. Next to this vertical row are two blocks 5. and'two blocks 10, which are oblong and ot' the same size as the two mentioned blocks 5. These blocks, when arranged in a row, leave a vacant space in the center of the box, as shown at 12. The third row consists of two blocks 10, and three blocks 5*.

All the blocks 5, 5 5 10, and 10 are oblong and are equal to two area units. It will be noted that the blocks 10 and 10 are arranged in a vertical position, or in'other words, with their small side toward the operator, whereas the blocks referenced 5, 5", and 5 are arranged horizontally, or rather with their long side toward the operator.

To solve the problem, the blocks are moved around within the container without turning the blocks over and without lifting the blocks from the container, and there is always a vacant space equal to two area units to permit such moving. The puzzle is solved when the position of the blocks is completely reversed, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the large block 2 has been removed from the upper left-hand corner, to the lower right-hand corner of the container, and that all the other blocksare correspondingly reversed in position. In order to again work the puzzle, all one needs to do is to reverse the container, and the blocks are in the position as shown in Fig. 1.

I have found that the most simple solution of the puzzle involves sixty-two moves or changes in the position of the blocks. While the puzzle may be solved in other ways, yet these ways are more diflicult, re-

, quire a greater number of moves, and it is more in the nature of an accident when the puzzle is solved by these other ways. lVhat I prefer as the correct solution of the puzzle is given as follows, reference being had to Fig. 3 wherein the area units are numbered. The solution involving sixty-two moves is as follows:

21-22-27-28 to 1546-21-22 1-7 to 13-19 25-26 to 27-28 Move entire column to 1011:. 19-20 to 25-26 18-24 to 6-12 14 to 19 More entire column to right. Move entire column to left. 1-7 to 13-19 6-12 to 18-24 More entire column to 101 t. Move entire column to right. 11 to 6 13-19 to 1-7 Move entire column up.

Move entire column to left. 25-26-27-28 1.0 27-28-29-311 6-12 to 18-24 g 13-14-19-20 to 19-20-25-236 Move entire column to right. 15-16 to 13- 8 to 1 31-4-9-10to 9-10-15-16 Move entire column up. 1-2 to 3-4 27-28 to 25-26 Move ntire column up. Move entire column down. 27-28-29-30 to 25-26-27-251 1-2 to 3-4 Move entire column down. Move entire column up. 3-4 to 5-6 27-28 to 25-26 I Move entire column up. Move entire column down. 25-26 to 27-28. 5-6 to 3-4 I 15-14-19-211 to 19-20-25-213 11-12 to 5-6 15-16 to 13-14 9-10 to l-l2 3-4-9-10 to 0-10-15-16 3-4 to 9-10 l-2 to 3-4 5-6 to 3-4 Move entire column up. 12 to 5 27-28-29-130 to 25-26-27-215 18-24 to 6-12 Move entire column down. 17-23 to 18-24 3-4 to 5-6 5-11 to 17-23 Move entire column up. 6-12 to 5-11. 25-26 to 27-28 18-24 to 6-12 I 13-14-19-211 to 19-20-25-215 Move entire column to right. 15-16 to 13-14 I claim 1. A sliding block puzzle comprising a flat container arranged to contain three separate rows of blocks (the rows consldered as running longitudinally to the line of vision), each row being two units wide and five units high, there being fitted into the container two single-unit blocks, eleven two-unit blocks, and one four-unit block, leaving a two-unit empty space, all the two-unit blocks being the same shape and size, whereby the first row to'the left can contain two transversely lying two-unit blocks, followed by two one-unit blocks, and finally a four-unit block; the second row can contain two 10ngitudinally lying .(with the line of vision) two-unit blocks, a vacant space, and two transversely extending two-unit blocks, while the final row can contain three transversely lying two-unit blocks and finally, two longitudinally lying two-unit blocks, and the intendedgoal can be sliding the blocks to obtain a block position. which is exactly the block position that would be obtained by turning the box as a whole through a half turn.

2. A sliding block puzzle comprising a fiat container arranged to contain three separate rows of blocks (the rows considered as running longitudinally to the line of vision),

each row being two unts wide and five units high, there being fitted into the container two single-unit blocks, eleven two-unit blocks, and one four-unit block, leaving a two-unit empty space, all the two-unit blocks being the same shape and size, whereby one outside row can contain two transverselylying-two-unit blocks followed by two oneunit blocks and finally a fourunit block; the middle row can contain two longitudinally-lying (with the line of vision) twounit blocks, a vacant space, and two transi 'ersely-extending two-unit blocks, while the other outside row can contain three transversely-lying two-unit blocks and two longitudinally-lying two-unit blocks, and the intended goal can be sliding the blocks to obtain a block position which is exactly the block position that would be obtained by turning the box as a whole through half a turn.

In testimony whereof I atfiximy signature.

JOHN M. SCHNEIDER. 

